Red Cross Needs O Negative Blood
Red Cross has significant need for type O negative blood
Type O negative is often needed in trauma situations
GREENVILLE, N.C. (March 23, 2016) — The American Red Cross has a significant need for type O negative blood donors to donate blood for patients.
Type O negative blood can be transfused to patients with any blood type and is often used in emergency situations. While less than 7 percent of the U.S. population has type O negative blood, hospitals depend on frequent O negative donations to ensure it’s always available for patients in need.
Eligible donors with type O negative blood are encouraged to make a whole blood or double red cell donation, where available, through the Red Cross. During a double red cell donation, two units of red blood cells are collected while most of the plasma and platelets are returned to the donor.
“Type O negative donors are an important part of the Red Cross trauma team,” said Nick Gehrig, communications director, Red Cross Blood Services. “While all blood types are needed, type O negative donations are necessary in emergency situations when there is no time to determine a patient’s blood type. Because there is such a high demand for type O negative blood, O negative donors are needed to donate often.”
Blood donation appointments can be quickly and easily scheduled by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting redcrossblood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).
Because of generous donors, the Red Cross is able to provide blood products to trauma patients like Carla Randecker. In 1995, a semi-truck failed to halt at a stop sign, changing Randecker’s life forever. She suffered a broken neck and femur. She woke from surgery to see a bag of blood attached to her IV.
“I’m O negative, a rarity,” said Randecker. “All I remember was, wow, someone gave their blood for me. I made a promise that day to do the same. When I was well enough, I’d return the favor.”
Randecker became a regular blood donor and gave for many years. This past year, her family fulfilled her wish to give blood together. Five of the family members who gave were type O negative, and since then, donating blood has become a family tradition. “If I teach them nothing else, it’s that they should always, always, do for others,” said Randecker.
The Red Cross must collect approximately 14,000 blood and platelet donations every day for the patients at about 2,600 hospitals and transfusion centers nationwide. Blood and platelets are needed to respond to patient emergencies, including accident and burn victims, heart surgery and organ transplant patients, and those receiving treatment for leukemia, cancer or sickle cell disease.
Those who come to donate now through May 15, 2016, will be entered to win four single-day tickets to any of 10 Cedar Fair theme parks in the U.S. For a full list of participating parks, visit redcross.cedarfair.com.
How to donate blood
Simply download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) to make an appointment or for more information. All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age (16 with parental consent in some states), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.
Blood donors can now save time at their next donation by using RapidPass to complete their pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation, prior to arriving at the blood drive. To get started and learn more, visit redcrossblood.org/RapidPass and follow the instructions on the site.
About the American Red Cross
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.
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(Information provided in a press release from The American Red Cross.)
Connect NC bond and Kerr Lake
CONTACT: Frank Timberlake (919) 269-4300
News about what is going on with NC State Parks out of Raleigh is rare, even hard to get. And now that there is big news like the passage of the Connect NC bond, those of who ardently support the parks on the shores of the John H. Kerr Reservoir are wondering about the plan for expenditures and improvements on the North Carolina side.
“We’re wondering if there will be opportunity for public input as to what things are needed at the SRA’s (state recreation areas). Historically, NC State Parks have operated in a vacuum passing down already decided policies from Raleigh, said Kerr Lake Park Watch spokesman Frank Timberlake, adding, “I think I can count on one finger the number of press releases or meeting invitations we’ve had from the Division of State Parks in recent years. They’re certainly not famous for seeking public involvement. But mark this; we intend to be involved, visible and vocal on the expenditure of these funds, maybe the last dollars of their type for quite some time.”
Timberlake said that the support group is generally pleased with the passage of the $2 Billion Connect NC bond (last week). North Carolina’s infrastructure has been crumbling for some time. A big concern is that NC State Parks is that the system has been acquiring more and more land areas without committed development funds to provide more and improved visitor services.
“Our biggest concern now is how the $100,000,000 will be split up among parks and the state zoo. Larger and more pertinent than that split is determining what amount of bond funds will come to the seven state recreation areas that NC STATE Parks operates on Kerr Lake. Transparency has not happened as no known groups including Kerr Lake Park Watch have been asked by the Division of State Parks on how the public, who use the seven parks, think they should be improved,” said Timberlake.
Kerr Lake Park Watch wants to see a survey of campers and others who use the parks about their views and some public input meetings. Kerr Lake Park Watch will now start digging through the bureaucracy to find these answers and to bring them out to view for our members and the public.
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(Press Release provided by Kerr Lake Park Watch) – kerrlakeparkwatch.org/ – facebook.com/KerrLakeParkWatch
VGCC holds Summer Term New Student Orientation sessions
Registration for classes and orientation sessions for new students have begun for the Summer 2016 term at Vance-Granville Community College, which starts Monday, May 23. Students who wish to enroll at VGCC starting in the Fall 2016 semester may also attend one of the orientation sessions for summer.
Attending an orientation session is required for all new students who wish to enroll in any of the college’s curriculum programs, and for students who are returning to VGCC after being away for three or more years. Students must also meet with an advisor or academic/career coach before registering for classes.
To attend an orientation session, a student must sign up in advance by visiting orientation.vgcc.edu.
VGCC now offers orientation in both an online and a traditional face-to-face format. In either format, orientation sessions help students learn where to find resources on campus or online, including how to register for classes through WebAdvisor.
Face-to-face orientation sessions are scheduled at VGCC’s Main Campus in Vance County on Tuesday, March 29, at 9 a.m.; Tuesday, April 19, at 9 a.m.; Thursday, April 21, at 2 p.m.; Tuesday, May 10, at 9 a.m.; and Thursday, May 12, at 2 p.m.
At the Franklin County Campus near Louisburg, orientation sessions are scheduled on Tuesday, March 29, at 2 p.m.; Tuesday, April 12, at 2 p.m.; Tuesday, April 19, at 5 p.m.; and Tuesday, May 3, at 9 a.m.
Orientation sessions are scheduled at VGCC’s South Campus, located between Creedmoor and Butner, on Wednesday, April 6, at 9 a.m.; Thursday, April 14, at 2 p.m.; and Wednesday, May 4, at 9 a.m.
Students who want to attend a face-to-face orientation session at the Warren County Campus in Warrenton should call (252) 257-1900 for more information.
Registration for summer classes is set to end on Thursday, May 19. College officials encourage students to apply for admission, attend orientation/advising, and register for classes as early as possible. Course schedules are now available online at schedules.vgcc.edu.
All summer curriculum courses are eight weeks in length and will end on July 25. The VGCC course selection for this summer’s term is more robust than in years past, including a variety of online and on-campus sections.
Summer term offers opportunities for eligible high school seniors to get a head start on college by taking courses through the Career & College Promise (CCP) program. University students may also use the summer to earn transferable credits while they are at home.
The tuition payment deadline is Thursday, May 19, by 5 p.m., if paying in person, or by midnight, if paying online through WebAdvisor.
For more information, contact VGCC at studentsuccess@vgcc.edu or (252) 738-3330, or visit any campus.
LimBionics Ribbon Cutting
A ribbon cutting was planned for today at 10 a.m. to celebrate LimBionics Prosthetics and Orthotics becoming a Chamber member and to showcase the business and all that it has to offer. LimBionics is located at 851 S. Beckford Drive, Suite B in Henderson.
Brittany Stresing is owner and lead practitioner and has been treating patients in Durham, Oxford, Henderson and surrounding areas for years. Now open in Henderson, LimBionics is proud to offer award winning Prosthetic and Orthotic care to the residents of the area.
Stresing is the only prosthetist in the area to have the elite title of Fellow of the American Academy of Orthotists and Prosthetists. She also won 2015 Female Entrepreneur of the Year as well as 2015 Healthcare Hero Rising Star awards.
LimBionics prides itself on patient-based and individualized care for those who have lost a limb and need a prosthetic limb, those dealing with diabetes, drop foot, stroke, arthritis, spina bifida, injury and much more.
For more information , call 252-430-6538 or email them at henderson@limbionics.com
(Information published for news purposes with information provided within a bio from The Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce.)
Pre-K and Kindergarten Registration
Parents of children who will be entering pre-kindergarten and kindergarten for the 2016-2017 school year may now register their children for enrollment at any Vance County Schools elementary school.
Children who will be four years old on or before August 31, should apply for pre-kindergarten and children who will be five years old on or before August 31, should register for kindergarten.
Applications for pre-kindergarten for the upcoming school year are now available at any elementary school or by going to the school system’s website at www.vcs.k12.nc.us and downloading the necessary forms.
Parents are encouraged to register their children early.
Special registration events for pre-kindergarten and kindergarten also will be held at each school during the week of April 11-15.
(VCS Press Release)